# What Is The Difference In Carriers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483 "2005-09-26T12:27:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483/1 "2005-09-26T12:27:30Z")

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I was watching a program on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan on the History Channel. They kept talking about Nimitz-class carriers. What is the difference between Nimitz-class carriers and non-nimitz-class (If there is such a thing, as I am totally clueless) carriers?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483/2 "2005-09-26T12:33:28Z")

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This Wikipedia article gives some pretty good information:

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft\_carrier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier)

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**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483/3 "2005-09-26T12:36:28Z")

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I’m sorry, **Shagnasty**. I didn’t even think of looking there. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483/4 "2005-09-26T12:37:31Z")

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[What the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimitz_class_aircraft_carrier)

Basically, they are a group of 9 ships with similar or identical characteristics that differentiate them from previous classes of aircraft carriers. They are called Nimitz-class carriers because the USS Nimitz was the lead ship of the class and Naval tradition dictates that the class is referred to by the lead ship, such as Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines or Iowa-class battleships.

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**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-in-carriers/323483/5 "2005-09-26T12:53:40Z")

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That’s informative! Thank you, Sgt!